Central Connecticut State University President Dr. Zulma Toro is resigning Wednesday amid recent behavioral complaints.
Dr. Toro, who began leading Central in 2017, faced accusations that she bullied and harassed subordinates in her office and during meetings.
In announcing Dr. Toro's departure to the University community, interim CSCU Chancellor Natalie Braswell says: "recent concerns regarding the workplace environment at Central are serious and deserve to be treated seriously."
Braswell recently accepted leadership of CSCU amid recent turmoil in the overall agency, involving former Interim Chancellor John Maduko and allegations of misspending under former Chancellor Terrence Cheng.
“The last few weeks have been unbelievably hard on me, my family, and so many across our Central community,” Dr. Toro acknowledged in her letter to the University community.
Sam Norton, a spokesperson for CSCU, writes:
Today, we announced that Dr. Toro will resign today as President of Central Connecticut State University and retire from the university, effective Oct. 1. The decision follows discussions between Dr. Toro and CSCU leadership about the best path forward for Central. Dr. Toro has served Central for nearly a decade, becoming the university’s first female and first Hispanic president. During her tenure, she worked with faculty, staff, students, and business and community partners to expand academic and workforce programs, invest in the university’s infrastructure, strengthen support for first-generation students, and build new partnerships. Recent concerns regarding Central’s workplace environment are serious, and CSCU has an obligation to listen when members of our community raise concerns, respond appropriately, and ensure our campuses are places where people are treated with dignity and respect. We believe this resolution provides stability for Central and is in the best interests of the university, and, most importantly, its students.
She will resign at the close of business on Wednesday.
There is no word on who may take over the University's leadership after Dr. Toro.
